It seems only a few weeks since we waved goodbye to the last occupants of the Big Brother house, but now a new batch of wannabes line up to while away the summer sunbathing, rowing, flirting and making fools of themselves for our entertainment.

The reality show has reached its 10th series and certainly doesn’t seem as fresh as when it began. The contestants know too much about how it is made and how they can make money when they get out, but it can still have entertaining moments.

Davina McCall returns, as always, to present the launch show on Thursday.

She’ll be particularly busy this year as she also hosts the weekly show Big Brother’s Big Mouth, plus a one-off programme on Wednesday.

George Lamb presents the E4 show Big Brother’s Little Brother, and fans won’t want to miss Sunday’s documentary Big Brother: A Decade In The Headlines, in which Grace Dent examines the impact the show has had on our culture and viewing.

Commissioning editor David Williams says: “After ten years of tears and tantrums, you might think Big Brother has seen it all. But the magic ingredient that keeps Big Brother constantly on its toes and audiences hooked is the housemates. And this year I have no doubt that we’ve found a new crop of heroes and villains who will soon take their place among the housemate hall of fame.”

Davina has been heavily pregnant during three series of Big Brother and her children – Holly, seven, Tilly, five and Chester, two – have grown up with the show.

Gasp

But she reveals: “They couldn’t care less about my job or Big Brother. But my daughter Holly was quite worried that I kissed Doctor Who on Comic Relief. I had to do a lot of explaining.

“I can’t believe Big Brother is ten, it doesn’t feel old. I spoke to the producer the other day and he told me something that absolutely made me gasp. I love the fact Big Brother can still make me gasp.

“I feel intrinsically linked to the show, and I’m really close to the people that work on it.

“A lot of them have worked on every series and we’re all mates, I love these people. And I don’t think summer is summer without Big Brother.

“If you have new people in it every time, I don’t see that it will get boring. This show is an innovator, it doesn’t copy other programmes.

“It’s unique and interesting, and as long as it stays like that I don’t see why it can’t carry on. And if it carries on, I’m bloody doing it!”